Candidates forum to be held Wednesday

NORTH BRANFORD  Voters will have a chance to get to know the candidates for the Board of Education during an information forum Wednesday.

Marissa Yaremich

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, October 18, 2003

The event, sponsored by the Parents Advisory Council, will be held at the North Branford Auditorium behind the intermediate school, 654 Foxon Road, at 7 p.m.

In addition to eight questions set forth by the council, taxpayers can pose their own inquiries during the program, said Chairwoman Donna Ricci.

On Nov. 4, voters will decide which of five candidates will fill three vacancies on the school board. The Democratic candidates are Cheryl Smith and incumbents Larry Casey and Penny Seaman.

Ronald Haskins is the Republican Partys endorsed candidate. Rose Angeloni, a Republican, is a petition candidate.

With nearly two decades on the school board, Casey said his campaign focuses on providing students with a "meaningful life" that goes well beyond their time in the schools.

"We cannot stay as a country if we dont have extremely qualified students," said Casey, who recently retired from the New Haven public school system after teaching for 36 years.

Seaman agreed with Casey, adding that she plans to continue using her negotiating and management skills as a lawyer and a nine-year board member to exceed the systems strategic planning goals.

Angelonis campaign also focuses on long-range planning, as well as improving communication between the board and residents.

"Its very important to work collaboratively with the town," said Angeloni, who is board chairwoman and has served for nine years.

As for Democratic newcomer Smith, her candidacy is not only backed by her party, but by Republican Town Committee Chairman Michael Downes.

"Currently, in my view, there are no incumbent (candidates) from either party that should be trusted by the public because there is a culture of arrogance, nepotism, abuse of funds and deceit," said Downes.

Downes has been involved in a dispute with the school board over meals ordered for board meetings with school funds.

Smith, a licensed social worker at The Childrens Center of Hamden, said, "I dont think theres anyone who wants a bad education for children," Smith said. "My goal is to join the team."

But to have a good education, it must also be affordable, said Haskins, a self-proclaimed blue-collar worker and the only party-endorsed Republican.

"We can have high-quality education without sacrificing services," said Haskins. To do so, the board must adopt a standard policy of accountability and produce an "acceptable" budget.